In principle, the specifications for both the J1 and V1 sensors are the same, with the sole difference of an anti-dust window on the J1 which is absent on the V1 (equipped with a more traditional anti-dust system). This design difference shouldn’t have any effect on image quality.

Nikon V1 sensor measurements

No suspense here: the sensors for the Nikon V1 and the J1 are strictly the same (8.8 x 13.2 mm, 10.4Mpix). There are slight differences in the scores for each, resulting in an overall score of 54 for the V1 and 56 for the J1, but these differences are so small that they are well within the limits of measurement uncertainty and variances in manufacturing quality. (As a reminder, a difference in DxOMark scores of 5 points is equal to 1/3 stop and is barely noticeable on images.)

In conclusion, even though the Nikon J1 appears to achieve its goals, we are a bit skeptical about the Nikon V1's ability to find a place in its market category.

One last remark: the Nikon 1 RAWs are cooked

One last thing about the Nikon 1 line: we have detected some smoothing on RAW files —a first for Nikon, though a somewhat regular occurrence for Sony and Pentax cameras. As explained in more details in a previous article, such smoothing artificially suppresses noise by lightly mixing neighboring pixels, but comes at the price of a loss of resolution.

So as to fairly analyze each camera, we have estimated the amount of sensor noise prior to smoothing and indicated with a white dot each ISO for which we detected smoothing. More precisely, this smoothing is clearly apparent starting at ISO 800 and intensifies right up to the maximum ISO (ISO 6400).

The amount of smoothing also varies depending on the gray level: it is weak in highlights, but becomes proportionately stronger in the shadows.

Further readings for the Nikon 1 series: The tests

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Announced in June 2011, the Panasonic Lumix DMC GF3 will be of interest to photographers who can afford an easy-to-use compact camera with interchangeable lenses and an image quality superior to that of other compact cameras (such as the Canon Powershot S100).

Nikon put a lot of effort to design lenses that offer the best balance of image quality and portability, and apparently it paid off. Let’s look closely at how these lenses perform compared to their direct competitors.

Introduced this past summer, the PEN E-PL3 and PEN E-PM1 are the latest micro-four-thirds cameras from Olympus. These 2 new models are intended to complete the PEN EP3 series and thus offer a whole range of compact cameras with interchangeable lenses. Each model offers a different set of controls with a different size, depending on whether you need more directly-accessible controls while shooting, or if you favor a pocketable camera. But as we'll see, given that they're based on the same sensor as the PEN EP3, these cameras perform equally well (or poorly) in term of image quality.

The long awaited and rumored mirrorless Nikon camera was finally announced today. And it’s not just one but a pair of new mirrorless compact “1 System” cameras that are coming to compete with the Sony NEX 7, the Pentax Q, the Olymps PEN EP3 or even the Fujifilm FinePix X10. These 2 first models in this new Nikon 1 series are the Nikon J1 and Nikon V1.